Holdback-iron



(No Model.)

A. KERRY.

HOLDBAGK IRON. No. 466,079. Patented Dec.29, 1891.

min/ 69.53% 4/7 44; j/ "'65-,

{I #4972. AQM

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON KERRY, OF MARYSVILLE, MICHIGAN.

HOLDBACK-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,079, dated December 29, 1891.

Application filed October 10,1891. Serial No. 408,379. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v Be it known that I, AARON KERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marysville,

in the county of St. Clair and State of Michiof the iron having a hook formed thereon, a

spring extending beneath said hook, and an eye on the holdback adapted to engage in the hook, all so arranged that in the pulling back of the horse the eye on the back-strap will draw against the hook, and in case the traces become detached the horse in the forward movement will disengage the eye from the hook and free himself from the vehicle.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my holdback-iron. Fig. 2 isavertical central longitudinal section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the under side of the frame with the spring detached.

The frame consists of two side bars a I), connected together at the ends by cross-bars c c and near one end by a spring cross-bar d. On the cross-bars c c screw-apertures are provided to receive screws e, by means of which the device can be secured to the inner face of the shafts of a vehicle. The cross-bar c is provided with an inclined bearing f, having a shoulder or stop g formed at the end thereof. A flat spring 71, preferably tapering from its butt to its point, is adapted to be secured in the frame with the butt engaging in the bearing f on the under side of the frame and passing to the upper side of the frame over the crossbar (Z and beneath the frame to the crossbar 0, engaging at its forward end in a socket 1, formed beneath a hook j, which centrally overhangs the frame.

1c is an eye secured to the holdback-strap Z, which is adapted to engage beneath the hook j, compressing the spring, as shown in Fig. 2, in such position, which holds the eye firmly in its engaged position, preventing rattling or accidental disengagement except by drawing it forwardly, when by compressing the spring h it will be withdrawn from the hook. It will be observed that the spring is held in position in the frame by being bent over the cross-bar d and engaging at opposite ends in the bearing formed in the cross-bars c c, and that no securing device-such as a screw, bolt, or rivetis required for the spring.

lVhat I claim as my invention is 1. A holdback-iron consisting of a frame and an overhanging hook secured to one end thereof, a cross-bar on the frame between the opposite end thereof and the end of the overhanging hook, and a spring having suitable securing-bearings in the opposite ends of the frame, bent over the cross-bar and beneath the overhanging hook, substantially as described.

2. A holdback-iron consisting of the side bars a b, the cross-bars c c, the spring crossbar d, the bearings f "L in such end cross-bars, the spring 71-, engaging with its ends in said bearings and centrally bent over the cross-bar d, and the hook j.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON KERRY. lVitnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, J AMES WHITTEMOR 

